Chico Alliance Church
"Preparing to Build"
MAIN THEME
Secure walls support superior worship.
Crumbled walls cultivate corroded worship.
INTRODUCTION
Most all of us have been involved in a building project of one kind or another; on a large scale or a small scale. We all, to some degree encounter that internal drive to accomplish, do, make, or invent. Any kind of building requires some of the very same elements. Whether it is a skyscraper or a shed, a corporation or a congregation, a large firm or a small family, there are some standard principles common to all. The building process requires plans, goals, deadlines, leadership, work, organization, cooperation, energy, commitment. The process of building often brings obstacles, opposition, mistakes, set-backs, interference, depression, discouragement.
In this short book named after its author, we have a blueprint for effective building that can apply to building or growing almost anything. God has seen fit to record and preserve some principles of growth as effectively demonstrated through this prayer pilgrim named Nehemiah. We hope to discover principles related to leadership effective growth that will be usable on every level of life. We have a dream for God's growth here at Chico. We have dreams for our families, our Sunday School, our relationships. If we long for lasting growth, we must learn to do it God's way. Throughout the next six months we hope to discover and put into practice some of God's principles of growth gleaned from the journal of a man who lived it and who was directed by the Holy Spirit.
Gene Getz in his little commentary lists only a few of the relevant topics and tips to be found in this Journal.
*How to pray when there seems to be no human solution to our problems
*How to blend human and divine factors when facing these predicaments.
*How to keep God's sovereignty and our human responsibility in proper balance.
*How to "plan our work" and "work our plan" and at the same time rely on God as our divine resource Person.
*How to handle discouragement in ourselves and others.
*How to set goals and achieve them when everything around us seems to be thwarting our efforts.
*How to motivate others when morale is rapidly deteriorating.
*How to cope with personal anger and other negative emotions.
*How to accept promotion and success without abusing or misusing our privileges.
*How to respond to those who make false accusations against us and malign our motives.
*How to face and solve the toughest problems in our own lives first.
*How to lay the foundation for genuine revival among the people of God.
HISTORICAL SETTING
The placement of the book of Nehemiah along with Ezra and Esther has caused considerable confusion over the years. They are sandwiched between the period of the judges and the poetry books. These three books actually belong to the period of Jewish history called "The Return". Israel had been in God's obedience training school for some time.
It all started with one moldable pagan whom God singled out to be a channel of blessing to the world. His name was Abram later renamed Abraham. From Abraham, God began to cultivate a special people for His own possession. He blessed them and cultivated them not because THEY were great, but because HE WAS GREAT. To Abraham was born Issac, the son of promise, from the dead womb of Sarah. We follow Jacob into Egypt where the children of Israel multiply at an accelerated rate to the dismay of the Egyptian Empire. The intimidated Egyptians struggled to squelch this fruitful people through hard labor and even infanticide. The tribulations cycled for some 400 long bitter years in spite of their desperate cries for help. Just when the people felt that God no longer cared, He heard their cries and raised up a leader who would miraculously usher them out of Egypt to the land promised to their father Abraham hundreds of years before.
After a time, a united kingdom was established in the land that continued for some 120 years under the leadership of three kings, Saul, David and his son Solomon. After the death of King Solomon, civil war broke out under Rehoboam and Jeraboam directed a good portion of the Northern tribes to form their own separate kingdom called Israel. The remaining tribes then became known as the Southern Kingdom or Judah.
After 19 evil kings and significant spiritual corruption, God brought discipline to the Northern Kingdom through the fierce Assyrians who conquered and scattered them around 722 B.C. The Southern Kingdom survived for a time latter forming a period called the "Surviving Kingdom" under the leadership of 20 kings only eight of which followed the Lord. After a final string of sorry sovereigns and a siege of repulsive rebellion by the people, God delivered discipline upon Judah through Babylon. Babylon executed destruction on the city and carried off the people around 586 B.C. and left a small group of devastated people. Lamentations 1:1-5
After many years of painful education under Babylonian captivity, Cyrus of Persia brings the great Babylonian Empire to its knees. Soon Cyrus, as prophesied, issued a decree to permit the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. Some 50,000 jubilant Jews return with Zerubbabel and Temple restoration began and was soon blocked for some sixteen years. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah were commissioned by God to spur the people to repentance and rebuilding. Finally, the Temple, a shadow of its former glory is finished around 515 B.C.
Ahasureus succeeded Darius 486B.C. and a young Jewish orphan was taken to the winter palace in Susa as a contestant in a Miss Persia beauty pageant designed to select a new queen.
Artaxerxes I rose to power 464 B.C. Shortly after, the revivalist and prophet Ezra returns to Jerusalem with a small group of people (1,500) to conduct revival meetings and restore temple worship. In the meantime, efforts had been started to rebuild the rest of the city and restore its broken down walls and burned out gates. Intense opposition to the restoration project arose and all work to rebuild came to a instant halt by order of King Artaxerxes until further notice. The great city remains defenseless against predators and pollution. It is shortly after this event that we join the journal of Nehemiah, God's prayer pilgrim.
The book of Nehemiah is basically the journal of Nehemiah. Scripture preserves for us his thoughts, his prayers, his intentions, and the events surrounding not only the rebuilding of the wall and gates, but the restoration of corporate worship in the city.
Chapter 1-7 recount the rebuilding of the walls and gates surrounding the city.
Chapter 8-13 details the restoration of the worship within the city.
I. REBUILDING THE WALLS AND GATES 1-7
A. Nehemiah Researches the Needs 1:1-11
1. The Penman
Little is known of this now famous leader. All we know of Him is what is revealed here in his personal journal. He was the son of Hacaliah and the cupbearer to the king.
2. The Period
Nehemiah's first journal entry is dated the "Month of Chislev" (Nov-Dec) twentieth year of Artaxerxes (446 B.C.)
3. The Place
Susa, the capital or citadel was the winter resort of the Persian kings.
1889-1890 French archaeologists uncovered the ruins of this royal residence. The palace was built with cedar, gold, silver, and ivory imported from various countries. Artistically colored glazed bricks and relief designs of winged bulls decorated the palace.
4. The Problem vs 2-3
a) The Occasion vs 2
One of Nehemiah's brothers returned to Susa from Jerusalem with some other men.
b) The Inquiry
Nehemiah did not wait around to hear reports. He had two major concern on his heart. They had probably been on his prayer list for some time and so he inquired immediately concerning "the remnant", God's special people and Jerusalem, God's special place.
If I forget you, O Jerusalem may my right hand forget her skill. May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you. If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy." Psalm 137:5-6
Nehemiah is some 800 miles from the situation and probably not personally acquainted with any of the people or involved with the present situation and yet displays a deep concern and interest in what is happening with God's special people in God's special place because he is intimately related to God.
Any plan to build a people, begins with a passion to bear the burdens of that people.
We observe that principle here, briefly and later broadly. We must care enough to make inquiry into the welfare of others. We shouldn't wait until it is critical before we act. Long distance caring is genuine compassion. Nehemiah demonstrates genuine concern in spite of his own relative life of luxury i the winter palace. He took the initiative to find out about their welfare. How much easier it would have been to shrug it off because he was too distant to do anything about it. Usually the case is "out of sight, out of mind." Not for Nehemiah. The people of God were continually on his heart. He is not unlike Paul who carried much desire and compassion for some he had not even met.The walls had been in ruins for quite some time. So long perhaps that the people had grown accustomed ed to their delapitate state. It had been some 14 years since Ezra arrived. The majority of men, even if touched by spiritual fervor, find it hard to deep on the high levels for long. Breathing is easier lower down.
c) The Report
Together this delegation from Jerusalem unfold the grim report. There were three basic facts presented to
Nehemiah in the report.
1--The "Remnant" (endearing term referring to faithful followers) was in great distress and reproach.
The word "distress" is a term to communicate a state of misery or calamity. It describes an internal emotional state triggered by an unpleasant external circumstance. "Reproach" refers to a verbal abuse. The remnant in Jerusalem were in a discouraged, depressed state.
2--The walls were broken. They were without protection and security. Anyone could come in and out which is probably why they were so subject to reproach.
3--The Gates were burned.
WALLS & GATES
We are going to hear a great deal concerning walls and gates in Nehemiah's journal. It would do well to get a grip on their literal and figurative literal significance. "Figurative literal" -- every figure in Scripture has a literal significance. When Jesus said, "I am the vine", he did not mean He was a grape vine. The figure points to a literal meaning being that He was the foundation and source of life.
The construction of walls around cities served two basic functions.
1--Walls protected the inhabitants of the city from predators who might persecute and destroy.
2--Walls preserved the inhabitants of the city from the pollution of the outside world.
Gates were the control points of the city. Whoever controlled the gates, had control of the city.
I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the gates of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." Genesis 22:18
And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies." Genesis 24:60
Gates were also the place of social interaction.
The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. Genesis 19:1
Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. Genesis 23:10
Gates were a place to administer justice.
If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. Deuteronomy 21:19
A city without locked gates and lofty walls was considered no city at all. Without high walls and secure gates, there was fear of enemies and danger of pollution from the outside influences. Walls and gates have a significance in the spiritual scheme of things. Walls provide protection from the enemy and prevention of pollution from outside influences.
Job had prayed for God's hedge of protection for himself, his family and his possessions so that Satan could not afflict without special protection.
When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom. Job 1:5
"Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. Job 1:10
At times God would remove His protective wall for discipline purposes.
Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it." Isaiah 5:5-6
Proverbs uses the idea of walls and limitations to illustrate self control.
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28
God, through Ezekiel, admonished the prophets for failing to build spiritual walls of protection.
This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! Your prophets, O Israel, are like jackals among ruins. You have not gone up to the breaks in the wall to repair it for the house of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord. Ezekiel 13:5
"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30
We are to put a guard around our heart.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23
Hosea prayed a wall of protection and isolation around his roving wife.
Therefore I will block her path with thorn bushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, `I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.' Hosea 2:6-7
What are the walls of God?
The Law of God is our wall of protection.
The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. Deuteronomy 6:24
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? Deuteronomy 10:13
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:14
The Word of God preserves from pollution
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:9,11
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalms 19:7-11
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2Timothy 3:17
As we walk away from God's established ways, breaches appear in the walls and we become vulnerable to predators and pollution. God established principles of spiritual life as sure as there are laws of physics that cannot be violated without established consequences. If I jump from a building without special precautions, I will quickly experience the law of gravity. Yet within the laws of gravity there is considerable freedom and benefit. The same is true in the spiritual realm if we will learn to recognize it. The key to repairing breaches and building walls is the Word of God and prayer.
We sustain protection from our enemy through prayer saturated with the Word.
We stem the tide of pollution through the Word applied with prayer.
Job, Ezekiel, Moses, Jesus all erected walls of protection through prayer and the Word. We are called on to intercede, to stand in the gap for others through prayer.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18
If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. 1 John 5:16
We will find that prayer is an imperative part in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls in Nehemiah's journal. It is mentioned at least eleven times in the process.
B. Nehemiah Responds to the Need
1. By demonstrating pity for the plight of the people
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Neh1:4
Nehemiah's initial response was to weep. Weeping is an external response to an internal emotion. It centered more in the vocal chords than the tear ducts. It could be an expression of joy or sorrow. It was associated with prayers of petition (Hannah, Esther, Hezekiah) or prayers of penitence (Peter, Woman at Jesus' feet).
A secondary response was "mourning". There was initial weeping but continual mourning. The mourning was a word that referred to the mourning rite for the dead. It usually involved much emotion ordinarily expressed audibly and visually expressed. This period of mourning could last anywhere from seven to seventy days.
Demonstration of emotion of this sort is not a readily accepted practice in today's society; especially in men. We must allow Scripture rather than culture to dictate our conduct. Scripture encourages us to be involved in the hurts of people; to feel what they feel; to empathize with their pain.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15
Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4
I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Acts 20:19,31
Any plan to build the body must begin with a passion to bear the burdens of the body; Abraham, Jesus, Paul.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:7-8
The men who have been raised up to do great work for God and men, have always to begin by greatly and sadly feeling the weight of the sins and sorrows which they are destined to remove. No man will do worthy work at rebuilding the walls who has not wept over the ruins. Without the sad sense of men's sorrows, there will be no earnestness in alleviating them, nor self-sacrificing devotion; and without much prayer there will be little consciousness of weakness of dependence on divine help.
It is not pleasant or comfortable to enter into someone else's pain and suffering. It is difficult and personally draining. Yet we will never find true ministry and full meaning in life until we commit to such a purpose in the body. Our church will never become more than a surface social club where we come to feel good for a few hours. God has designed us for compassion. Because we are by nature designed to love, we must work at shutting off those channels of compassion to others.
If we would build a healthy body, it must begin with compassion. Compassion is an term of action. It is an emotion yes, but it never is satisfied to simply sense pain. Compassion must do something to relieve the pain of others. The seeds of involvement are watered by the tears of compassion and bear wonderful fruit for the kingdom.
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Psalms 126:5-6
NOTE: Those of you who are uncomfortable with displays of emotion, do you ever really get angry, or jealous or frustrated. Those are displays of emotion every bit the same as weeping.
If we build, we must bear. The first step to proper growth here and anywhere, is a compassion to effectively touch needs.
We dare not refuse to commit to involvement in their lives and offering protection and healing. It is the basic responsibility of every Christian. We are a family.
If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? James 2:16
Why don't we get involved? Fear--selfishness--Indifference--Ignorance
CONCLUSION
Any plan to build the body must begin with a passion to bear the burdens of that body.
The programs developed, the direction we head ought to be dictated by the needs of the body under the direction of the Holy Spirit who longs to meet those needs.
FIRST: Examine our present response to the plight of people.
SECOND: Pray for Spirit generated compassion for others.
THIRD: Research the needs.
